Captive cap



Jan. 2, 1934. c. B. KUDSEN CAPTIVE CAP Filed July 6, 1931 INVENTOR Crl B. Knudsen ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES CAPTIVE CAP Carl B. Knudsen, Mamaroneck, N. Y., assignor to The Cap Coupler Corp., New York, N, Y.,

a corporation of New York Application July 6, 1931. Serial No. 548,727

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to captive caps and is more particularly directed toward captive caps suitable for use on tubular members such as the threaded neck of a collapsible tube or the threaded neck on valve stems, rsuch as employed with pneumatic tires.

The present invention contemplates the provision of hinge connections for supporting captive caps of various forms in such a manner that the cap can easily be placed on the end of the tubular member or removed from it and yet retained in a position to be replaced readily.

An object of the present invention is to provide a captive cap for this purpose which is susceptible of mass production at an exceedingly low cost and which may be employed with conventional forms of collapsible tubes and cooperative tube caps, or with conventional forms of valve stems for pneumatic tubes. Other and further objects of the l invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several forms in which it may be embodied, it being understood that the forms shown are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the several parts employed with a collapsible tube and molded cap;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the rings provided ior securing the cap on the neck of this form of tube;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2 to show the hinge;

Fig. 4 is an. enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and showing the hinge and; method of assembly;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a collapsible tube, the full lines showingfthe cap in place, and the dotted lines showing it swung back;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating machine-cut threads on the neck of a collapsible tube;

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views illustrating modified forms of rolled threads; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5 showing an adaptation for an all metal cap.

In the drawing a conventional collapsible tube is indicated at 10 and a more or less conventional cap of the molded type is indicated at 11. The tube has a threaded neck 12 made of the usual soft material, while the cap 11 has a threaded socket 13 to secure it on the neck of a tube, a.- substantially cylindrical skirt 14 outside the socket, and an enlarged or anged upper end 15. A sleeve 16 preferably made of sheet steel and hanged at the lower edge at 17 is adapted to frictionally t the cap.

The cap and tube are connected together by a hinge mechanism generally indicated at I-I and consisting of two stampings 20 and 21 preferably sheet steel. The stamping 20 comprises a ring portion 22 having an inside diameter slightly larger than the sleeve 16 and an outside diameter slightly smaller than the ange 15, and a ydownwardly bent extension 23 apertured as indicated at 24. The lower hinge member 21 comprises a ring portion 25 and an extension 26, bent to form an eye as indicated at 27. Its extreme end 28 is passed through the hole or opening 24 in the eX- tension 23 and bent as indicated in Fig. 4 so Yas to secure these two stampings together. The extension 26 may pass through the opening and Vbe folded in the other direction, as indicated in Figs. 6-8, if desired. Y

The ring portion 25 is adapted to be passed down along the neck of the tube and to be brought against the shoulder 26' as indicated in Fig. 5, and when it is in this position the cap may be threaded on as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5, or it may be unthreaded and swung back as indicated in dotted lines. It will be noted that the ring portion 22 is confined between the flanges Vl5 and 17 and hence the parts cannot accidentally separate.

The stamping 21 may be secured in place on the threaded neck of the tube in various manners. Fig. 6 shows a tube neck 12a having machine-cut threads 30 tapered` as` shown. The stamping 21 passes down by the first thread Witli little or no interference. It then catches in the threads and is turned down against the shoulder 26 as indicated. In cutting the threads, a small burr indicated at 3l may be left. The steel ring readily cuts through this. When the ring is turned'down against the shoulder it is held in position with suflicient friction to prevent its loosening under the lordinary turning effort which may be applied. By bodily rotating the tube, the parts may be turned so that the cap does not hang directly below the discharge opening.

In the form of rolled thread 32 indicated in Fig. 7, the rolling process squeezes the material crowding it down to form a large diameter portion indicated at 33 and generally a burr 34. The ring 22 is easily threaded down through the burr and against the shoulder and held in place.

In Fig. 8 a dished stamping is indicated at 21. This stamping may pass along threads 36 (rolled or cut) and into a recess 35 beyond the threads and may then be pressed out flat as indicated in full lines thereby forcing it into a very tight engagement with the neck of the tube.

In Fig. 9 a collapsible tube cap oi the all metal type is indicated at 40. The rings 22 and 25 and hinge H may be of the construction above described and may be secured on the neck of the tube in the same manner. Instead of securing the ring 22 on the tube cap by a sleeve 16 which is suitable for use with molded caps, it is possible with the metal cap to expand the cap slightly as indicated at 41 after it has been passed through the ring 22. The cap 40 may have a depending flange 42 overlying the ring 22.

The captive cap construction which has been described is one which is suitable for mass production. The stampings 16, 20, and 21 may be very inexpensively made out of thin gauge sheet steel and the hinge is so designed that the rings 22 and 25 may be automatically assembled in the machine in which they are formed. These stampings are preferably provided with a protective plating of nickel or cadmium. The ring 22 is passed onto the cap and the ring 16 forced in place in a Very inexpensive manner. The rings are so small that they do not project beyond the head of the cap and hence do not interi'ere with the ngers when threading and unthreading the cap. According to this design, it is unnecessary to make any change in the tube or cap or in any of the automatic machinery which is employed in making these parts or filling or handling the tube. The sheet metal parts are substantial and rigid, even though of very small dimensions, and the use of the hard sheet metal parts facilitates the assembly of the lower ring on the tube. Owing to the short period of use of collapsible tubes the wear which may be caused by the steel against the soft metal is of no consequence.

Certain of the broader features of the present invention are also shown in application for patent for Captive cap for valve stems executed concurrently herewith and filed July 6, 1931; as Serial No, 548,728.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, andA I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but a few of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. InV combination, a tube having a threaded neck extending down to a shoulder, an internally threaded cap adapted to be threaded onto the neck of the tube and having flanges about its upper and lower ends, a stamped sheet metal ring securely held about the threaded neck adjacent the shoulder and out of engagement with the lower end of the cap when the cap is threaded tightly onto the neck of the tube, a second sheet metal ring loosely surrounding the cap and nonremovably held thereon between the anges, a downwardly bent integral extension carried by the second ring, and an outwardly extending integral lug carried by the first ring, the extension and lug being hinged together to allow swinging the cap away from the neck of the tube, the cap being movable in the second ring suliciently to allow threading the cap on and orf the neck of the tube without interference.

2. In combination, a tube having a threaded neck extending down to a shoulder, an internally threaded cap adapted to be threaded onto the neck of the tube and having flanges about its upper and lower ends, a stamped sheet metal ring securely held about the threaded neck adjacent the shoulder and out of engagement with the lower end of the cap when the cap is threaded tightly onto the neck of the tube, a second sheet metal ring loosely surrounding the cap and non-removably held thereon between the flanges, a downwardly bent integral extension carried by the second ring, and passing close to the lower flange on the cap, and an outwardly extending integral lug carried by the first ring, the extension and lug being hinged together to allow swinging the cap away from the neck of the tube, the cap being movable in the second ring sufficiently to allow threading the cap on and off the neck of the tube without interference, the upper flange on the cap overlying the extension so as not to interfere with turning the cap.

3. In combination, a tube having a threaded neck extending down to a shoulder, an internally threaded cap adapted to be threaded onto the neck of the tube and having flanges about its upper and lower ends, a stamped sheet metal ring threaded down on the threaded tube neck adjacent the shoulder, the ring being out of engagement with the lower end of the cap when the cap is threaded tightly onto the neck of the tube, and held frictionally against rotation, a second sheet metal ring loosely surrounding the cap and non-removably held thereon between the flanges, a downwardly bent integral extension carried by the second ring, and an outwardly extending integral lug carried by the rst ring, the extension and lug being hinged together, to allow swinging the cap away from the neck of the tube, the cap being movable in the second ring sufficiently to allow threading the cap on and oi the neck of the tube without interference.

4. In combination, a tube having a threaded I neck extending down to a shoulder, an internally threaded cap adapted to be threaded onto the neck of the tube and having flanges about its upper and lower ends, a stamped sheet metal ring securely held about the threaded neck adjacent the shoulder and out of engagement with the lower end of the cap when the cap is threaded tightly onto the neck of the tube, a second sheet metal ring loosely surrounding the cap and nonremovably held thereon between the flanges, a downwardly bent integral extension carried by the second ring, an outwardly extending integral lug carried by the rst ring, and a hinge interconnecting the extension and formed by passing' the end of one of said parts through a hole in the other and folding the said end about, the hinge allowing swinging the cap away from the neck of the tube, the cap being movable in the second ring sufliciently to allow threading the cap on and off the neck of the tube without interference. v

5. In combination, a tube having a threaded neck extending down to a shoulder, an internally threaded cap adapted to be threaded onto the neck of the tube and having a ange about its upper end, and carrying a frictionally held sleeve provided with a lower flange, a stamped sheet metal ring securely held about the threaded neck adjacent the shoulder and out of engagement with the lower end of the cap when the cap is threaded tightly onto the neck of the tube, a second sheet metal ring loosely surrounding the sleeve on the cap and non-removably held thereon between the flanges, a downwardly bent i n tegral extension carried by the second ring, and an outwardly extending integral lug carried by the fixed ring, the extension and lug being hinged together to allow swinging the cap away from the neck of the tube, the cap and sleeve being movable in the second ring sufficiently to allow threading the cap on and off the neck of the tube without interference.

6. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having spaced flanges, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from integral extensions of the rings and being substantially in the plane of the first ring.

7. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having spaced flanges, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, and a hinge connecting the two rings,the hinge being formed from an integral extension on one ring having a slot near the end thereof and an integral extension on the other ring passing through the slot and folded about the end of the other extension.

8. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having an upper integral flange, a sleeve securely carried by the cap and having a lower flange, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from integral extensions of the rings and being substantially in the plane of the first ring.

9. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having an upper integral ange, a sleeve securely carried by the cap and having a lower flange, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the anges, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from an integral extension on one ring and having a slot near the end thereof and an integral extension on the other ring passing through the slot and folded about the end of the other extension.

l0. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having spaced flanges, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, the upper flange of the cap being undercut to receive the ring, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from integral extensions of the rings and being substantially in the plane of the first ring.

11. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having spaced flanges, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from a downwardly bent integral extension on the second ring having a slot near the end thereof, and an integral extension on the rst ring passing through the slot in the other extension and folded about the end of said extension.

l2. A tube having a threaded neck, a thin sheet metal ring surrounding the neck at the foot of the threads, a cap threaded on the neck of the tube and having spaced flanges, a thin sheet metal ring carried between the flanges, and a hinge connecting the two rings, the hinge being formed from integral extensions of the rings and being substantially in the plane of the lirst ring, the upper flange on the cap overhanging the extensions and hinge to prevent grasping the hinge when loosening or tightening the cap.

13. The combination with a tubular element and a cap closure member therefor having two spaced flangesv a two part hinge interconnecting the tubular element and cap, one of said hinge parts frictionally engaging said tubular element,

the other hinge part being loosely but non-removably carried between the flanges.

i4. The combination with a tubular element and a cap closure member therefor having an enlarged gripping portion, of a anged sleeve about the cap closure member, and a hinged connector intermediate the tubular element and cap closure member, said connector comprising a loose ring about the sleeve between the flange and gripping portion, and a second ring `hinged thereto and secured about the tubular element.

l5. The combination with a tubular element and a cap closure member therefor having an enlarged gripping portion, 'of a flanged sleeve about the cap closure member, and a hinged connector intermediate the tubular element and cap closure member, said connector comprising a loose ring about the sleeve above the flange, and a second ring hinged thereto and frictionally held on the tubular element.

i6. The combination with a tubular element, and a cap closure member therefor having an enlarged gripping portion, of a hinged connector intermediate said tubular element and cap closure member, comprising an annular member frictionally secured upon said tubular element and a second annular member loosely surrounding said cap, and a sleeve having a body frictionally secured on said cap, the said sleeve having a flange to prevent displacement of said second annular member from said cap closure member at its lower end.

17. The combination with a tubular element and a cap closure member therefor having an enlarged gripping portion, of a hinged connector intermediate said tubular element and cap closure member, comprising an annular member frictionally secured upon the tubular element and a second annular member loosely surrounding said cap closure member, and a sleeve having a body frictionally secured on said cap closure member, the said sleeve having a ange to prevent displacement of said second annular member from said cap closure member at its lower end, and in which said first annular member has a lateral extension to receive the second annular member, and said second annular member has an extension normal thereto engaging said first annular member to provide the hinged connection therebetween.

1S. A device for supporting a captive cap from a stem comprising two sheet metal stampings each in the form of a thin flat ring provided with an extension, one ring being adapted to encircle the cap and the other to encircle the stem, at least one of the extensions being at substantially right angles to the plane of the ring, said extensions being provided with cooperative hinge forming means integral therewith and so located that the cap may be placed on the stem or swung away from it.

i9. A device for supporting a captive cap from a stem comprising two sheet metal stampings each in the form of thin fiat ring provided with an extension, one ring being adapted to encircle the cap and the other to encircle the stem, at least one of the extensions being at substantially right angles to the plane of the ring, one of said extensions being apertured to receive the other, the end of the latter being bent about the end of the former to form a hinge so located that the cap may be placed in the stem or swung away from it.

CARL B. KNUDSEN. 

